Best Of The Best
Pirates Press, 2017
9/10
A picture disc with 2 tracks that would be on their top notch 2018 record Rise Up, Roadside Bombs pay tribute to the late, great Maximum Rock’n’Roll columnist Bruce Roehrs here, whose mug is plastered across one side of the record.
Side A, “Best Of The Best”, is a speedy punk rock gem with harmonizing backing vocals that’s not lacking in any melodies as the band make the most of the 2 minute track with an instantly memorable feel.
Side B’s “45” takes a similar approach with fiery drumming alongside an infectious chorus that flows with an anthemic quality, as Roadside Bombs brings bits of street punk and Oi! into the propulsive formula.
A supergroup consisting of members of The Muggers, Engage, Screeching Weasel and The Quitters, Roadside Bombs have cemented themselves as a leader in the area of gritty and melodic modern day punk rock, as this release further illustrates.
A perfect memorial for the life long punk enthusiast Roehrs, who passed away in 2010, there’s little doubt he’d be spinning this one alongside Agnostic Front.
Travels well with: Territories- When The Day Is Done; 45 Adapters- They Call it Justice